In a federal state, regional interests may be protected by a bicameral parliament. The German Bundersrat is not elected directly, its members are delegated by Länder. A general 5% threshold without exceptions for smaller parties  having a high level of support just in some constituencies does not lead to non-representation of such local and regional interests. These interests may be represented and protected also by procedural means in the legislative procedure like the inclusion and hearing of regional institutions or civil society organisations.